Tobacco pouch closure means



TOBACCO POUCH CLOSURE MEANS Filed May 28, 1947 Patented June 5, 1951 UNITED STATES iATENT OFFICE This invention relate to a tobacco pouch, and. particularly to a pouch closure structure.

It is an object of this invention to provide a simple pouch structure with an open end into which tobacco may be charged and a reliable closure for the open end of the pouch.

It is a particular object of the invention to form end folds at the open end of the pouch that may be folded to form a substantially air-tight seal and, furthermore, a closure fold that will positively retain the tobacco within the pouch. It is a further object of the invention to provide a tobacco pouch of flexible material without the addition of any metal parts in either the pouch or in it closure structure.

These and further objects of the invention will become apparent as the description thereof proceeds in connection with the drawing forming a part of this application, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tobacco pouch according to this invention, showing the free end closure flap in partially open position.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the pouch portion showing the end flaps folded into partially closed position, and

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the pouch showing the end flaps in pouch closing position and being held in such position by means of an end flap fastening device.

The tobaccopouch in accordance with this invention consists of a tobacco holding body H], a tobacco dispensing and pipe charging head [2 of the type shown in my Patent 2,279,953, a free tobacco receiving end [4, and an end flap closure device it.

The tobacco receiving body it is formed of a length of tubular flexible material which is preferably although not necessarily sufficiently transparent to permit the smoker to observe the amount of tobacco within the pouch without opening the same for visual inspection.

The tubular material is cut into appropriate lengths by cutting the same transversely along substantially parallel lines, thus providing a short length of flexible tube open at both ends. One of the open ends of the pouch material is suitably attached to the tobacco discharging head |2 while the opposite free end is suitably cut and creased to form eflicient closure folds by which the tobacco receiving end may be closed.

When the one end of the pouch material has been affixed to the tobacco dispensin head E2, the pouch Ill will assume a substantially flat position with the opposite side Walls in substantial contact with each other. The closure folds at 2 Claims. (01. 1503) the free end of the pouch are formed by first removing from the opposite side walls complementary triangular sections. In the preferred practice of the invention these sections describe an isosceles triangle whereof the base is-longer than the two equilateral sidest Therem'oval of the triangular sections forms within the free end of the side walls of the pouch a triangular notch [8, the apex 26 of which is disposed at the medial line of the pouch and extends toward the pipe charging end.

After the notches 18 have been formed in the opposite side walls of the pouch the side walls are further creased to facilitate the folding of the end wall into overlapping pouch closing position. A base crease 22 is formed transversely across the face of each side Wall along a line which is spaced below the apex 29 of the notch IS a distance substantially equal to the perpen dicular distance from the base to the apexgof the notch, and the material of the, side wall above the crease is folded outwardly. A pair of creases 24 and 26 extend from the outer extremity of the base crease 22 at an upward and inward inclination that causes these creases to intersect at the apex 26 of the inverted triangular notch I8. The flexible end material of the pouch is folded inwardly upon itself along the respective creases 24 and 26 so that the overlapping material of the end walls forms wings or flaps 28 and 39 disposed in a position extending substantially perpendicular with respect to the side walls, this position being shown best in Figure 2 of the draw- The final step in effecting complete folding of the end closure structure consists in bending the laterally extending wings 28 and 3D downwardly on the crease 22 of the base line and against the outer surface of the respective side walls of the pouch, this position being best shown in Figure 3 of the drawing.

In order to retain the free folded tobacco receiving end of the pouch in tobacco retaining position, there has been provided a flexible strap Hi, the free ends 32 of which are suitably attached to the side walls of the pouch, thereby providing a loop that extends about and embraces the folded tobacco receiving end of the package.

In the specific embodiment of the invention, two closure loops 34 and 36 have been illustrated, for the sake of obtaining the greatest amount of security against accidental opening of the end folds. In the specific teaching of the invention herein the closure loop It consists of a length of flexible material which has been split along its medial line intermediate its ends. This in effect provides a closure strap having free unitary ends 32 which may be attached to the respective side walls of the pouch in any suitable manner and with a minimum amount of effort. When so constituted the closure strap in effect provides two closure loops 34 and 36 which may be manipulated laterally in opposite directions beyond the edges of the pouch as in Figures 1 and 2 and thereby free the folded end wall of the pouch so that it may be opened.

Fromthe foregoing it will be seen that there has been provided herein a simple yet effective closure for a tobacco pouch which eliminates all metallic elements and which in no way depends on mechanical closure devices. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing a presently preferred structure has been taught but it is evident that modifications will su gest themselves within the spirit of the disclosure and within the scope of the following claims.

i claim;

1, A pouch comprising a body portion formed with flexible side walls and an opening in an end thereof, closure means for said opening comprising opposed flap members formed by a triangularly shaped notch in each of two oppositely disposed side walls which notch extends from the edges of said side walls to an apex disposed on the medial line of said pouch, crease lines located transversely of each of said sides positioned inwardly-of said pouch body from said apex, folding lines in each of said sides extending from said apex to the ends of Said crease line, whereby the flap members are inwardly folded in overlapping relation along 'said folding lines and the overlapped members are folded along said crease lines to position portions of the flap members adjacent to the exterior surfaces of said oppositely disposed side walls.

2. A pouch comprising a body portion formed with flexible side walls and an opening in an end thereof, closure means for said opening comprising opposed flap members formed by a triangularly shaped notch in each of two oppositely disposed side walls which notch extends from the edges of said side walls to an apex disposed on the medial line of said pouch, crease lines located transversely of each of said sides positioned inwardly of said pouch body from said apex, folding lines in each of said sides extending from said apex to the ends of said crease line, whereby the flap members are inwardly folded in overlapping relation along said folding lines and the overlapped members are folded along said crease lines to position portions of the flap members adjacent to the exterior surfaces of said oppositely disposed side walls, and a flexible strap having its ends attached to opposite sides of said pouchto constitute a loop embracing the folded flap members to maintain the same in the aforedescribed folded position,

ROBERT C. RICHEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 255,415 Chris'tey Mar. 28, 1882 673,821 Rahn May I, 1901 1,171,431 Gorton Feb. 15, 1916 1,228,258 Sullivan May 29, 1917 2,036,687 Fisher Apr. '7, 1936 2,113,089 Klahn Apr. 5, 19 8 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 181,854 Great Britain June 29, 1922 517,787 Great Britain Feb. 8, 1940 

